Environmental Scientist

Job Title: Environmental Scientist (Staff Scientist)

Job Description

This Environmental Scientist (Staff Scientist) role focuses on designing, supervising, and executing complex laboratory and field studies that assess the behavior and persistence of chemicals in the environment. The position plays a key role in delivering high-quality, regulatory-compliant environmental fate and ecotoxicology data to a global clientele across agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biocides, and animal health products. You will act as a technical expert, provide guidance to colleagues and clients, and contribute to the development of procedures, methods, and reports that support global regulatory submissions.

Responsibilities

• Design and supervise simple and complex experiments and procedures in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements, including but not limited to DEA, EPA, FDA, FIFRA, and OECD guidelines.
• Develop procedures and methods to solve technical problems and improve laboratory practices and workflows.
• Serve as a technical expert for staff and external customers, providing scientific guidance and support on environmental fate and related studies.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of instrumentation and equipment to ensure accurate and reliable data generation.
• Conduct studies to determine the persistence, distribution, and behavior of chemicals in various environmental matrices such as soil, water, and other media.
• Perform complex data evaluations, interpret results, and ensure scientific integrity and accuracy in all analyses.
• Review the work and data generated by other staff members to ensure compliance with quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Write complex technical reports, including study reports and standard operating procedures, that clearly document methods, results, and conclusions.
• Serve as a primary business contact for clients on assigned projects, providing updates, clarifying technical issues, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Work concurrently on multiple projects, effectively prioritizing tasks and managing timelines to meet project and regulatory deadlines.
• Monitor and direct activities of other staff within your area of expertise, offering technical leadership and mentoring.
• Potentially serve as Study Director on one or more projects, overseeing Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliance and ensuring that all work on assigned projects meets regulatory and internal quality standards.
• Confer with scientists and colleagues to plan research, discuss findings, and prepare technical papers and reports.
• Train staff on laboratory techniques, methods, and procedures necessary to complete environmental fate and related laboratory assignments.
• Maintain accurate records, follow established protocols and company policies, and support continuous improvement of laboratory operations.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience working in a GLP-compliant laboratory environment, including adherence to regulatory standards such as DEA, EPA, FDA, FIFRA, and OECD.
• Strong Expereince in environmental science, environmental fate studies, or closely related disciplines.
• Proficiency in chemistry and analytical chemistry, including chemical testing and wet chemistry techniques.
• Experience in environmental fate studies that evaluate the persistence and behavior of chemicals in environmental matrices.
• Working knowledge of environmental compliance and environmental field practices, including soil sampling and remediation concepts.
• Familiarity with laboratory operations, quality control procedures, and environmental engineering or environmental remediation principles.
• Ability to perform advanced troubleshooting of scientific instrumentation and laboratory equipment.
• Strong computer skills and the ability to use scientific software and data analysis tools effectively.
• Excellent scientific and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and prioritize tasks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write complex technical reports and standard operating procedures.
• High attention to detail and a commitment to data integrity and quality.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude.
• Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and maintain accurate and complete records.
• Bachelors degree in a relevant field such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or another directly related discipline.
• Minimum of five years of experience in an environmental fate laboratory with direct involvement in GLP studies.
• Authorization to work in the United States indefinitely without restriction or sponsorship.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant field such as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, environmental science, or related discipline.
• At least three years of directly relevant experience in an environmental fate laboratory when combined with a Masters degree, as a substitute for the bachelors degree plus five years of experience.
• Experience in microbiology, biology, toxicology, or related life science disciplines.
• Expereince in environmental engineering, environmental remediation, or related environmental fields.
• Experience with analytical chemistry and wet chemistry methods applied to environmental and chemical testing.
• Familiarity with laboratory-based quality control systems and procedures.
• Experience as a Study Director or in project management within a GLP laboratory environment.
• Experience working with agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biocides, or animal health products in a testing or research setting.
• Ability to collaborate with a global client base and provide clear technical explanations to non-specialist stakeholders.

Work Environment

This role operates in both laboratory and field environments, providing exposure to a wide range of environmental and analytical testing activities. You will work in a highly specialized laboratory recognized for high-tier ecotoxicology and environmental fate studies that support global regulatory requirements for agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biocides, and animal health products. The site is known for its long-tenured staff, with many team members having 1020 years of experience, creating a stable, collaborative, and knowledge-rich environment. The organization is part of a large international life sciences network with hundreds of laboratories worldwide, offering access to advanced technologies, diverse scientific expertise, and opportunities to contribute to complex, high-impact projects across food, environmental, pharmaceutical, genomics, forensics, and advanced material sciences testing. The standard schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with overtime as needed to meet project and regulatory deadlines. Work involves typical laboratory attire and adherence to safety protocols, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment in both lab and field settings.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Easton, MD.

The pay range for this position is $28.84 - $43.26/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Easton, MD.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 3, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Easton,MD.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.